Toy airplane and its method of manufacture



H. F. GADE March 21, 1944.

TOY AIRPLANES AND THEIR METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Dec. 21

TN VE N TOR.

HARCOURT GADE.

ATTORNEY.

FTGTT Patented Mar. 21, 1944 TOY AIRPLANE AND ITS METHOD OF MANUFAC TUBE Harcourt F. Gade, River Forest, 111., minor to Joe Ott Manufacturin poratlon of Illinois g 00., Chicago, 111., a cor- Application December 21, 1942, Serial No. 469,621

Claims.

.This invention relates to toy airplanes and their method of manufacture, although certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of a simple, inexpensive and improved method of producing toy airplanes from paper in order to impart thereto real semblance to actual airplanes and provide a propelling medium therefor as an adjunct to its structural features.

Numerous types of toy airplanes have heretofore been proposed for manufacture from paper, but these for the most part did not resemble actual airplanes in flight, nor are they of sturdy, inexpensive construction and possessed of such simplicity that they can be blanked from paper and assembled with ease by children who are not suiiiciently mature to handle the usual knockeddown toy airplane structure, which involves a good many parts and requires matured skill in assembly.

Toy airplanes of blanked paper construction involving few parts, simplicity of assembly, and avoiding the use of extraneous adhesives that cannot be properly handled by young people. fulfill the requirements of a deflnite age group below that to which the usual knocked-down toy airplane or vehicular structures belong.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the structure and improve the operation of toy airplanes and other vehicular structures.

Another object is to provide an improved toy airplane structure blanked from paper, involv- Still another object is to provide an improved toy airplane structure from blanked paper or similar material that can be readily assembled into a toy airplane or other vehicular structure possessing strength, rigidity and the ability to withstand impact from flight.

A further object is to provide a toy airplane structure involving a rigid tube as a fuselage to which blanked paper parts can be adhered to to produce a structure simulating an airplane in three dimensions. v

A still further object is to provide an improved method of producing and assembling toy airplane structures from blanked paper sheets.

Still a further object is to provide an improved method of assembling toy airplane structures from sheets of material from which the relatively few parts are stamped and thereafter a propelling expedient the following descriptionof the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a toy airplane structure embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure. 2 is a side view in elevation of the toy airplane structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view in elevation of the toy airplane structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the wings disposed in a vertical plane for drawing convenience and space conservation.

Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of a tubular fuselage and propelling expedientcomprising the frame work of the toy airplane structure shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section to clarify the illustration.

Fisure 5 is a side view in elevation of the nose or tip end closure of the fuselage and serving to take the impact with which the toy airplane lands.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the forward wing.

F re 7 is a plan view of the rear or tail wing.

Figure 8 is a plan or development view of the fuselage cover, auxiliary parts comprising the airplane structure and serving as the exterior skin and primary assembled element thereof.

Figure 9 'is a plan view of an adhesive strip of material utilized to connect the nose bumper or tip closure to the fuselage.

The structure selected for illustration is not intended to serve as a limitation upon the scope or teachings of the invention, but is merely illustrative thereof. There may be considerable variations and adaptations of all or part of the teachings depending upon the dictates of commercial practice.

The method is exemplified by the function of the elements arid their relation to the assembled structure selected for illustration which comprises an elongated cylindrical tube Ill, preferably though not essentially, convoluted or otherwise shaped from heavy paper such as cardboard to serve as the fuselage and. framework of the toy structure. in this instance an airplane.

The tube i0 extends for the projected length of the airplane structure plus a short distance in excess thereof, which will appear more fully hereinafter and will be explained in connection with the propelling expedient. In order to impart a striking semblance in three dimensions to an top longitudinal edge of the tube I0.

actual airplane structure, a cover II for the tube I is stamped or otherwise shaped from fiat sheet material, such as still paper, that is self-sustaining and form-retaining and yet is sufilcietntly thin to yield to the force of bending for application over the tube I0.

The cover I I is of a length substantially corresponding to the overall length of the airplane body and is Just short of the tube length l0 so as to present a projected portion I2 therebeyond. So that the cover sheet I I will give a three dimensional outline in the form of a cabin I3 and a rudder I4, it is blanked to present lateral arcuate extensions or flaps I5-I6 and lI-I6, that extend from substantially straight parallel lines I9-20 defining a substantially rectangular area 2I along the longitudinal median portion of the cover II.

This rectangular area 2I is of sufiicient width to circumferentially cover the tube I0 so that when the parallel lines I 9-20 meet, the single edge formed by the contactin flaps I 5-i 6 and I1-I0 will define a line substantially coincident with the It should be noted that the forward edge 22 of the sheet I I has a laterally offset flap 23 contiguous with line to overlap the corresponding portion of line I 3 for adherence to the sheet II in retaining the forward edge thereof in tight embracing relation with the corresponding edge or extremity of the tube I0. I

A slit 24 separates the flap 23 from the cabin flap I6 so that one may be folded independent of the other. Similarly a laterally extending overlapping flap 25 extends from the line 20 between the,flaps I6 and I 8 to overlap a corresponding portion 26 between the flaps I5 and I1, thereby enabling the sheet I I to be initially applied to the tube I0 by flaps 23 and 25. So that the slight opening defined by having the flap 23 extend around the tube I0 while the cabin flaps I5I6 extend vertically upward, the cabin flap I5 has an angularly offset extension 21 within-the circumferential extent 'of the flap 23 to reinforce and cover the opening defined substantially at the terminus 28 of the slit 24 disposed between the cabin fiap I6 and the overlapping flap 23.

When the overlapping flap 23 and the cabin flaps I5-I6 are in position, the angularly offset extension 21 can be folded over and adhered to the adjacent portions of the flaps I6-23 in the region of the slit terminus 28, thereby covering any slight opening left therebetween and reinforcing the terminus 20 against any possible extension beyond the meeting line 20. An irregularly shaped lateral extension 23 of minute extent is provided on the cabin flap I6 adjacent to the overlapping flap 25 for the same purpose.

It will be observed that in order to avoid the use of any extraneous adhesive, such as glue usually confined in tubes which cannot beneadily handled by young children, it may be desirable or preferable to treat all flaps and extensions beyond the meeting lines I3-20 with a normally dry adhesive that can be moistened to effect their desired adhesion preparatory to securing each flap or pairs of flaps, in the procedure of forming the tube I0 and sheet II into an airplane or other vehicular body formation.

Prior to applying the sheet II to the tube I0, however, the forward wing 30 is pre-shaped by stamping or otherwise blanking from sheet material to provide the usual or desired wing outline. This forward wing 30 is also provided with rear edge flaps 3l-32 proximate to the curved wing 7 5 tips 33-34. The flaps 3I-32, preferably though not essentially, are defined by perforations defining interrupted crease lines 35-36 disposed substantially parallel to the inclined or angular rear edge lines 31-33 of the wing 30.

The sides of the flap 3I-32 are slitted as at 33-40 and 4I-42 that extend between the interrupted crease lines 35-36 and the rear edges 31-33 of the wing 30. The flaps 3I-32 serve to provide some degree bf control to the path of movement of the plane after it is put in flight or at least provide more stability therefor.

Similarly, a rear or tail wing 43 is stamped or otherwise shaped from sheet material, and it is similarly provided with corresponding flaps 44-45 that extend to and communicate with wing tips 46-41, respectively. In orderto index the position of the wings 30-43 and center them with respect to the tube I0 and the sheet II without the necessity of any measuring acts or computations, which would require a scale or other implements not adapted to use by young people, the wings 30-43 are provided with longitudinal parallel lures "-49 and 50-5I, respectively, which are spaced to correspond with the spacing of slits 52-53 and 54-55 stamped or otherwise provided in the rectangular area 2| of the sheet II to receive the wings 30-43 prior to the application of the sheet II to the tube I0.

To this end, the slits 52-53 and 54-55 correspond substantially in width with the thickness of the paper from which the wings 30-43 are stamped or cut, and the slit lengths correspond with the width of the central portion of the wings 30-43 with the imprinted lines 48-49 and 50-5I corresponding substantially with the length and spacing of the slits 52-53 and 54-55 in the sheet II.

This construction enables the wings 30-43 to be first inserted with their tips 34-41 under the sheet II, through slits 52-54, over the intermediate sheet portions 56-51, down through the slits 53-55 and again under the sheet II until lines 43-43 and 50-5I align with and can be seen through slits 52-53 and 54-55, respectively.

This indexes and assembles the wings 30-43 in the desired and predetermined position with the pre-shaped cover sheet II that is applied to the tube I0 for adhesion thereto with the following procedure or method being preferable though not necessarily essential:

(a) Align the forward sheet edge 22 with the forward edge of the tube I0.

(b) Wet the gummed area of flap 23 and extend over the corresponding edge 58 of the sheet II to adhere in overlapping relation therewith. This tightly applies the forward region 22 of the sheet II to the tube I0.

(0) Wet the gummed area of flap 25 and extend over the corresponding edge 20 of the sheet II to adhere in overlapping relation therewith. This tightly applies the forward region 22 of the sheet II to the tube I I.

(d) Wet the gummed areas or surfaces of the cabin fiaps I5-l6 and fold these to effect their approach and contact in a vertical plane to define the cabin i 3 in the form of a still two dimensional area whose obverse sides have previously been imprinted with facsimiles of pilot and a cabin rib structure to impart a three dimensional formation in conjunction with the tube I0. 7

(e) Wet the gummed areas or surfaces of the rudder flaps I1-I8 and fold these to efiect their approach and contact in a vertical. plane to define the rudder It with the desired color scheme and insignia or symbols to impart a three dimensional formation in conjunction with the tube it (,0 Wet the gummed angular extension 21 and apply to the corner defined by the merging of the cabin I: with the tube covering area 2|, thereby reinforcing the structure and covering any opening that may remain.

(9) Wet the gummed irregular extension 2! and apply to the corner defined by the merging of the cabin H with the tube covering area 2|, thereby reinforcing the structure and covering any opeing that may remain.

(h) The tight application of the sheet II to the tube It, according to the procedure defined in the proceding steps will frictionally hold the wings 30-43 in position between the tube It and the intermediate portions 56-51 of the sheet il without resort to any adhesive.

The forward open end of the tube I is preferably closed by a closure ill, which preferably through not essentially comprises a rcunded end plug 60 made from wood or other suitable material. The plug 60 has a reduced shank 6| corresponding to the interior diameter of the tube IQ for telescopic projection therein, to bring the exterior portion of the plug 60 in line with the corresponding exterior of the tube l0;

Thereupon, a gummed strip of paper 52 of suitable color imprint, is applied over the meeting edges of the plug 60 and the tube I 0 to effect their adhesive connection (Figures 1 and 2). The plug 60 may be of any desired shape and is preferably sized and balanced to determine the position of the center of gravity of the entire assembled structure to provide the proper flying characteristics therefor. It also serves to take the impact of landing against vertical surfaces, as well as objects that may obstruct the path of travel. istics are such as to land the toy airplane at a For best results, the flying character-- slight angle and substantially against the flat under-surfaces of the wings 30-43 where no vertical walls or other objects obstruct the travel. Movement can be imparted to the toy airplane in a variety of manners. It can be thrown by finger-grasping the fuselage Ill that is covered by the area 2| of the sheet II and throwing into the air at an upwardly inclined angle to first accomplish some elevation and thereafter glide off at a slight downwardangle to the ground at a Point distant from the initial throw.

Another expedient in conjunction with the fuselage tube It may involve a blow tube 83 that is longer than the tube l0 and of somewhat similar diameter to afford free telescopic association therewith to the entire unobstructed internal length of the tube iii. In this position the blow tube 63 extends beyond the rearward portion l2 of the tube ill for a distance sumcient for the operator's hand to be accommodated. The blow tube 63 is then inserted between the lips and the operator blows therethrough with a high initial force and-velocity to send the tube ill, its body II, and the closure end Ell into space at any desired angle, so that levelling off will be accomplished with distance and an extended flight can be obtained.

It is thus desirable that the tube ill project beyond the rearward edge of the body II to provide a short extension I! so that the blow tube 63 can be inserted without any possible contact with the body ll. Repeated entries of the blow tube 63 into the fuselage extension II, will not likely cause damage to the body it or specifically the rudder it through error in judgment or inaccurate alignment of the blow tube 63 with the fuselage tube l0 through its extended portion l2.

Another propelling expedient may involve a rubber band in conjunction with a propeller that may be rotatably mounted on the plug with the band extending through the fuselage tube III for anchorage at any point therein and preferably proximate to the rearward edge thereof.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood that the invention is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy structure comprising a single unit tubular frame, an enveloping cover for said frame, and wing elements serving to support said frame in flight, means for joining said cover to said frame, said wing elements being disposed between said frame and cover for fixed attachment responsive to the joinder of said cover to said frame.

2. A toy structure comprising a single unit tubular frame, an enveloping cover for said frame,

and wing elements serving to support said frame in flight, said wing elements being loosely associated with said cover for application to said frame,

and an adhesive for eifecting the attachment of said cover over said frame and thereby frictionally securing said wing elements between said frame and cover to project therefrom.

3. A toy structure comprising a single unit tubular frame, an enveloping cover for said frame. and wing elements serving to support said frame in flight, said wing elements being loosely associated with said cover for application to said frame, an adhesive for effecting the attachment of said cover over said frame and thereby frictionally aecuring said wing elements between said frame and cover to project therefrom, and flaps extending from said cover in adhesive contact beyond said frame to define a body portion of the toy.

4. A toy structure comprising a single unit tubular frame, an enveloping cover for said frame, wing elements serving tosupport said frame in flight, said wing elements being loosely associated with said cover for application to said frame, an adhesive for effecting the attachment of said cover over said frame and thereby frictionally securing said wing elements between said frame and cover to project therefrom, flaps extending from said cover in adhesive contact beyond said frame to define a body portion of the toy, and a closure end piece on said frame contoured as a complement thereof to serve as an impact bumper therefor.

5. A toy structure comprising a solid tubular frame, an enveloping cover for said frame, wing elements serving to support said frame in flight, means for joining said cover to said frame, said wing elements being disposed between said frame and cover for frictional attachment thereto responsive to the joinder of said cover to said frame, and propelling means associated with the interior of said tube to displacesaid toy structure through space.

6. A toy structure comprising a solid tubular frame, an enveloping cover for said frame, wing elements serving, to support said frame in flight,

there being preformed slits in said cover to receive said wing elements therethrough, said wing elements being disposed through said cover slits to present a surface for contact with said frame, an adhesive for effecting the attachment of said cover over said frame and thereby frictionally attaching said elements between said frame and cover to project therefrom, and propelling means associated with the interior of said tube to displace said toy structure through space.

7. A toy structure comprising a solid tubular frame, an enveloping cover for said frame, wing elements serving to support said frame, therebeing preformed slits in said cover to receive said wing elements therethrough, said elements being.

disposed through said cover slits to present a surface for contact with said frame, an adhesive for effecting the attachment of said cover over said frame and thereby frictionally attaching said 20 surface for contact with said frame, an adhesive for effecting the attachment of said cover over said frame and thereby frictionally attaching said elements between said frame and cover to project therefrom, flaps extending from said cover in adhesive contact beyond said frame to define a body portion of the toy, a closure end piece on said frame contoured as a complement thereof to serve as an impact bumper therefor, and a blow tube telescopically associated with said frame tube to displace said toy structure through space.

9. A method of constructing an airplane toy which consists in pre-shaping a cover from a flat sheet of material for 'a tube serving as its frame, loosely associating pre-shaped wings with said cover by slipping them through slits in said cover, and adhesively applying said cover over a tube so that said wings are tightly held between said cover and tube to project laterally therefrom.

10. A method of constructing an airplane toy which consists in pre-shaping a cover with body forming flaps from a flat sheet of material for a tube serving as its frame, loosely associating preshaped wings with said cover by slipping them through slits in said cover, adhesively applying said cover over a tube so that said wings are tightly held between said cover and tube to project laterally therefrom, and then adhering said flaps to confront each other in projecting rela- 0 tion with said tube to define body portions for said airplane toy.

HARCOURT F. GADE. 

